Extensible car-step



(No Model.) JAMES D & JOHN P. WOOD- EXTENSIBLE GAR STEP.

Patented May 14, 1889.4

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' extensible step forming the subject-matter of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. WOOD AND JOHN F. WOOD, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

EXTENSIBLE CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,237, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed March 8, 1889. 4

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES F. WOOD and JOHN F. WOOD, both of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented new and Improved Extensible Oar-Steps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The ordinary form of car-step is placed so high above the level of the track that it is extremely difficult for aged or infirm persons to enter the cars, and consequently there are frequently provided portable steps or stools, which are placed at the side of the track and upon which the person desiring to enter the car steps in order to reach the car-steps proper. It is to overcome the necessity of this portable step that we have designed the this application, our invention consisting, essentially, of a step mounted to slide in ways that are secured to the under side of the permanent car-steps, the extensible step being normally held in position just beneath the lower permanent car-step, but being arranged so that by proper manipulation the steps may be extended downward so as to form a continuation of the permanent steps.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a car end, representing the same as it appears when provided with our improved extensible step, parts being broken away and the steps being represented as they appear in their lowered or extended position; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the car, one of the steps and its operating attachment being shown in section.

In the drawings, 10 represents a car-platform, and 11 and 11 the permanent steps arranged in connection with said platform, the reservoir of the air brake system being shown at A. To the casings which support the steps 11 and 11 we secure castings 12, formed with ways 13, which serve as guides for a diagonal leaf, 14, that is rigidly connected to a tread,

Serial No. 302,488. (No model.)

15, the friction incident to the movement of the leaf 14. within its ways 13 being decreased by anti-friction rolls or wheels 16, carried by the leaf, and arranged as best shown upon the left in Fig. 2.

To the rear under face of the leaf 14 We secure an arm, 17, which carries a piston, 18, said piston riding in a cylinder, 19. The cylinder 19 is connected by means of a tube, 21, with the compressed-air reservoir of the airbrake system, and above the piston there is arranged a spring, 20. By this arrangement when pressure is on (which is the case when the cars are running) the auxiliary treads 15 will be held in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 2; but when the pressure is thrown off, in order that the brakes may be applied, the springs 20 will be free to act to force the steps to the positions in which they are shownlin Fig. 1. When the pressure is again applied, the steps will be returned to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 2.

From the arrangement above described it will be seen that as a train approaches a station and the brakes are applied the treads 15 will move downward, so that they will facilitate the exit of passengers from or the entrance of passengers to the cars, the treads being returned to their normal positions (shown in Fig. 2) immediately after the brakes are thrown off.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with a tread formed with a diagonal leaf, of an arm connected to said leaf, a piston carried by the arm, a spring arranged in connection with the piston, acylinder, and connections between the cylinder and the compressed-air reservoir, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the permanent steps of a car, of a tread adjustably connected thereto, a cylinder, a piston arranged therein, connections between the piston and the tread, and connections between the cylinder and the compressed-air reservoir, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the permanent steps of a car, of castings formed with Ways and the compressed-air reserx 'oir, substanconnected thereto, treads having diagonal tiztlly as described. leaves which carry anti-friction rolls, said rolls resting Within the Ways, arms connected 5 t0 the leaves, pistons connected to the arms,

cylinders within which the pistons ride, itnesses: springs arranged in connection with the pis- HENRY C. BERTOLETTE, tons, and connections between the cylinders DAVID GUSLETT.

JAMES F. \VOOD. JOHN F. \VOOD. 

